Download Drama Teaching Resource

As at 14.2.2008
Learning and Teaching Resources
for Learning English through Drama
The resources presented here are meant to be examples to show the types of
activities/materials that can be designed and developed to help students to work on
the various focuses of the module in the Suggested Schemes of Work for the Elective
Part of the Three-year Senior Secondary English Language Curriculum (Secondary 4-6)
(2007) (hereafter referred to as “SoWs”). Teachers are encouraged to adapt, modify
and develop their own resources or make use of other relevant materials to suit the
needs and interests of their students.
Part 1: Mastering the basics
Lessons 1-2: Module introduction and drama vocabulary (please refer to SoWs pp.4-5)
Activity
Work on the following in groups of 4.
1. Share anything that you know about drama or acting. You may refer to some movies you
have watched before and briefly talk about some characters, actors, plots which impress
you.
2. Read the list of words below and do the following:
a. Try to work out the meaning of any of the words that you do not know. You could
also make use of the dictionary if necessary.
b. Think of meaningful ways of putting these words into groups and give reasons for
your grouping.
Actor/actress
Narrator
Act/to act
Part(s)
Audience
Perform (to perform a play)
Cast (to cast a part)
Performance
Character
Play
Costumes
Project (to project your voice)
Deliver (to deliver lines)
Props
Dialogue
Rehearse (to rehearse your lines; to
Director
rehearse a play)
Direct (to direct a play)
Rehearsal
Drama
Role
Emotion
Scenes
Express (to express emotion)
Script
Lead actor/actress
Set (to set the scene)
Lighting
Sound effects
Lines
Stage
Make up (to do make up)
Stage directions
Monologue
Supporting actor/actress
Motivation
Theatre
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As at 14.2.2008
3. Sally has just joined the school drama club and her teacher asked her to write something
about her favourite actor/actress. Read the following passage written by Sally and try to
complete it with the words in the list provided.
I have been a drama fan since I was in primary school. I like almost all kinds of
(a) ____________ including comedy, tragedy, musical, etc. Anthony Hui is my
favourite (b) ____________ because he is an all-round performer. He is good at
playing all sorts of (c) ____________. He has a special charm on the stage that
captures the attention of the (d) ____________. He also directs plays himself and
has been awarded the best (e) ____________ for several times.
Like me, Anthony was a member of the Drama Club when he was in secondary
school. He was particularly interested in getting involved in backstage production
like (f) ____________, props and costumes, (g) ____________, etc. He did not
enjoy (h) ____________ on stage because he always forgot his (i) ____________.
He was also not good at (j) ____________his feelings and (k) ____________ in
front of the public. He played the (l) ____________ of a narrator in his first drama
performance. He just had to deliver his narration between the acts and
(m) ____________ and had no dialogues. He practised hard and did very well in
the (n) ____________, but just when the final performance came, he was so
nervous that he was standing still on the (o) ____________ for a minute before he
could barely finish his lines. That was really an unforgettable experience for him.
After years of hard work, he is now a very successful and famous actor in Hong
Kong.
Teachers’ notes
*Teachers may cut down the list of words for Step 2 by choosing words appropriate to the
needs and level of their students. If they decide to do so, the cloze in Step 3 will need to be
edited.
*For the less able students, teachers might like to provide them with a list of concise
definitions of the vocabulary as a matching activity and discuss the words with them if
necessary.
*For the more able students, teachers might like to further expose them to concepts relating
to drama like break a leg, comedy, dress rehearsal, musical, opening night, play bill, plot,
prompt, prompter, scenery, suspense, tragedy, tragicomedy, etc.
*Teachers might consider skipping Step 2b of the activity if they find it too demanding for
their students.
2
As at 14.2.2008
Suggested answers:
3. (a) plays/dramas
(b) actor
(c) characters/roles
(d) audience
(e) director
(f) lighting/sound effects/make up
(g) lighting/sound effects/make up
(h) performing
(i)
(j)
(k)
(l)
lines
expressing
acting
role
(m) scenes
(n) rehearsals
(o) stage
3
As at 14.2.2008
Lessons 3-4: Practising how to use stress and intonation to convey meaning (please refer
to SoWs pp.4-5)
A. Placing stress
Placing stress on different content words changes the meaning of a sentence.
Example
Ms. Smith teaches Geography. (The meaning here is that Ms. Smith, not someone
else, teaches Geography.)
Ms. Smith teaches Geography. (The meaning here is that Ms. Smith teaches, not
studies, Geography.)
Ms. Smith teaches Geography. (The meaning here is that Ms. Smith teaches
Geography, not another subject.)
Activity
With a partner, practise altering the meaning of each of the following sentences by placing
stress on different content words. Listen carefully when your partner places stress on different
content words and identify where the stress has been placed to express different meanings.
I never saw him do that.
She told me not to talk to strangers.
Do you want to go home?
Paul wants to marry Diana.
Smoking is a dangerous habit.
Are they married?
Who said you could go there?
I never said that.
You need to listen carefully.
You shouldn’t say that.
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B. Using intonation to convey meaning
A statement of fact usually ends with falling intonation. Rising intonation can be used to
change a statement into a question, or to express doubt.
Examples:
falling intonation - Mr. Howard is married.
rising intonation - Mr. Howard is married? (With rising intonation, the statement
becomes a question.)
Activity
1. With a partner, practise using falling and rising intonation to express the sentences as
statements of fact or as statements that indicate doubt.





Jamie’s a girl.
He won the race.
She’s a vegetarian.
He resigned his position.
Paul received an A.
2. With your partner, quiz each other on whether you can hear the sentence as a statement of
fact or a statement that indicates doubt. Put a tick in the correct column.
Sentence
Expresses a fact
She’s British.
He goes to church every
Sunday.
The test has been arranged for
Monday.
They’ve been dating for a
month.
He was fired.
5
Expresses doubt
As at 14.2.2008
Lessons 5-6: Identifying and expressing different emotions, feelings and motivations
(please refer to SoWs pp.4-5)
Activity 1
In small groups, discuss how the emotions, feelings or motivations in Column II in the table
below might be conveyed or expressed. Match them with possible verbal cues (words, sounds,
and voice changes) in Column I and non-verbal cues (facial and body movements) in Column
III accordingly. One has been done for you as an example.
I. Verbal cues
a. “ouch”, grunting
b. “are you sure?”,
“really?”, questioning
c. imperatives that are
demanding – “get me
that”, dominating the
conversation
d. “yuk”, “that’s gross”
e. “honey”, “sweetheart”,
flirting
f. asking questions, “oh,
my God!”
g. “my dear”, agreeing,
using the person’s name
you are addressing
h. “wow”
i. “thank you”, “please”,
“would you mind…”
j. stuttering, false starts
k. curt replies
k
II. Emotions,
Feelings
and Motivations
Dislike
Boredom
Happiness
Excitement
Sadness
Confidence
Nervousness
Bewilderment
Pain
Anger and
annoyance
Superiority
l. low and weak voice,
screaming
m. loud voice, imperatives,
swearing
n. “we’re sorry”, “it
hurts”, crying
o. uninterested voice
p. “certainly”, “of course”
Love (care and
kindness)
Love (attraction)
q. “that’s great”, “whoa”,
light laughing
Doubt
Fear
Disgust
Politeness
6
III. Non-verbal cues
15 1. clenched teeth
2. sniffling, trembling, heavy
breathing, lowering eyes
3. touching hair, brushing up next
to the person, embracing
4. open mouth, opening
hands/arms in a questioning
manner
5. holding hands, hugging, leaning
towards the other person
6. hands covering face, quietness,
walking away
7. finger wagging, ignoring or not
acknowledging the other person
8. wincing, holding the part of the
body that hurts
9. biting lip, avoiding eye contact,
breathing unevenly
10. smiling, eyes open wide
11. giving way to others, opening
doors/pulling out chairs for
others
12. rolling eyes, shrugging, looking
away
13. good posture, good eye contact,
open chest
14. scrunching eye brows
15. pouting mouth, wrinkling nose
16. raised eyebrows, sneering,
raised chin
17. jumping up and down, arm
waving
As at 14.2.2008
Teachers’ notes
*Teachers need not cover all the verbal and non-verbal cues in the list. They might like to
trim the list to cover only the most commonly used expressions. Instead of exposing students
to an exhaustive list of feelings, emotions and motivation, which is actually not possible, the
focus here is to let students have some ideas about how they can express their feelings with
different verbal and non-verbal cues in a drama performance.
*For the more able students, teachers might alternatively ask students to i) discuss in
groups and list the verbal and non-verbal ways or cues appropriate to the emotions,
feelings and motivations in the first table below without offering any hints, and then ask
students to share with their classmates the different verbal and non-verbal ways the group
has come up with; and ii) write down in the second table any emotions, feelings and
motivations students come across in their discussion but are not listed in the first table, and
then share them in class.
Emotions, Feelings
and Motivations
Anger and annoyance
Verbal cues
Non-verbal cues
Verbal cues
Non-verbal cues
Bewilderment
Boredom
Confidence
Dislike
Disgust
Doubt
Excitement
Fear
Happiness
Love (care and kindness)
Love (attraction)
Nervousness
Pain
Politeness
Sadness
Superiority
Emotions, Feelings
and Motivations
7
As at 14.2.2008
Suggested answers:
Activity 1
a. “ouch”, grunting
b. “are you sure?”,
“really?”, questioning
c. imperatives that are
demanding – “get me
that”, dominating the
conversation
d. “yuk”, “that’s gross”
K
o
II. Emotions,
Feelings
and Motivations
Dislike
Boredom
q
Happiness
h
Excitement
e. “honey”, “sweetheart”,
flirting
f. asking questions, “oh,
my God!”
g. “my dear”, agreeing,
using the person’s name
you are addressing
h. “wow”
n
Sadness
p
Confidence
j
Nervousness
f
Bewilderment
i. “thank you”, “please”,
“would you mind…”
j. stuttering, false starts
a
Pain
m
k. curt replies
c
Anger and
annoyance
Superiority
I. Verbal cues
l. low and weak voice,
g
screaming
m. loud voice, imperatives, e
swearing
n. “we’re sorry”, “it
l
hurts”, crying
o. uninterested voice
d
p. “certainly”, “of course” i
q. “that’s great”, “whoa”,
light laughing
b
Love (care and
kindness)
Love (attraction)
Fear
Disgust
Politeness
Doubt
8
III. Non-verbal cues
15 1. clenched teeth
12 2. sniffling. trembling, heavy
breathing, lowering eyes
10 3. touching hair, brushing up next
to the person, embracing
17 4. open mouth, opening
hands/arms in a questioning
manner
6 5. holding hands, hugging, leaning
towards the other person
13 6. hands covering face, quietness,
walking away
9 7. finger wagging, ignoring or not
acknowledging the other person
4 8. wincing, holding the part of the
body that hurts
8 9. biting lip, avoiding eye contact,
breathes unevenly
7 10. smiling, eyes open wide
16 11. giving way to others, opening
doors/pulling out chairs for
others
5 12. rolling eyes, shrugging, looking
away
3 13. good posture, good eye contact,
open chest
2 14. scrunching eye brows
1 15. pouting mouth, wrinkling nose
11 16. raised eyebrows, sneering,
raised chin
14 17. jumping up and down, arm
waving
As at 14.2.2008
Activity 2
1. View three short video clips from different movies.
2. As you view each one, identify the emotions, feelings or motivations that are being
conveyed by the actors/actresses. Remember that in one short scene there may be a
variety of emotions, feelings and motivations portrayed. Try to identify the main ones
being conveyed. Also, be aware of how the emotions, feelings and motivations represent
the kind of relationship that exists between the characters (e.g. if one character is in a
higher position than another).
3. List the verbal and non-verbal cues the actors are using to convey those emotions,
feelings or motivations.
Teachers’ notes
*Teachers might like to ask students to view scenes from Signs (2002), Titanic (1997) and
Nicholas Nickleby (2002) and attempt the worksheets on pp.10-12 for this activity.
Teachers might also select clips from other films that would interest their students. To
focus on both verbal and non-verbal aspects, students might like to watch the clips several
times. First, ask students to view the scenes without turning the sound on so that they can
focus on the non-verbal clues. Then, have them view the scenes with the sound on. If
necessary, keep the English subtitles on. The point of this activity is for students to become
aware of how emotions, feelings and motivations are expressed. It should not be done as a
listening activity. As such, the objective of the activity is achieved so long as students
manage to come up with some ideas similar to those in the suggested answers on pp.13-15,
which are not exhaustive.
*The less able students might be asked to view only one of the clips, either from the
examples provided or any other that teachers deem appropriate.
9
As at 14.2.2008
Film: Signs (2002)
Description: The movie is about a family living on a farm that is experiencing some
supernatural events such as crop circles*.
Scene: (Starts at approximately 13.5 minutes into the movie and lasts about 1.5 minutes)
The father (Graham Hess), along with a police officer, rushes back to his farm
house to see his son (Morgan Hess) sitting next to one of the family’s dogs which is
dead. His daughter (Bo Hess) is sitting on the swing set looking down at her brother
and the dog. Later the father talks to another son (Merrill Hess) as he brings his
daughter, Bo, into the house.


Emotions, Feelings
and Motivations
Sadness
Fear
Verbal cues
Morgan

Crying
(
Non-verbal cues
Bo

)


Love

Annoyance

Superiority

Bewilderment
Graham

“Did he hurt you?”
(
)

“I’m so sorry,
Morgan.”
(Love)
Curled up
(Sadness, Fear)
Eyes down
(
)
Morgan

Sniffling
(
)

Walking away from his
father
(
)
Graham to Merrill

“Where were you?”
(
)
Graham

“Tie Isabelle up to the 
Holding out his hand to
back of the shed and
his son
make sure the knot is
(
)
very tight.”

Rubbing his son’s
(
)
shoulder
(
)

Holding his daughter
(
)
Merrill

Eyes wide open
(

Turning around
(
* Crop circles refer to patterns that appear in farm fields which some people think are
created by creatures from another world.
10
)
)
As at 14.2.2008
Film: Titanic (1997)
Description: The story of Titanic and two young people from very different worlds who
meet and fall in love on the doomed voyage.
Scene: (Starts at approximately 27.5 minutes into the movie and lasts about 30 seconds)
The scene begins as Jack and his friend are looking for their cabin, find it and meet
their Swedish roommates. It stops just as Jack puts his belongings on the lower
bunk.

Emotions, Feelings
and Motivations
Politeness
Verbal cues
Jack




Non-verbal cues
Jack
Apologises for
bumping into someone
(Politeness)
“Excuse me”
(
)


Chin up
(
Open chest
(
)
)












Swedish roommates

Open mouth
(


11
)
As at 14.2.2008
Film: Nicholas Nickleby (2002)
Description: Adapted from the novel of the same name by Charles Dickens. It tells the
story of Nicholas Nickleby, who must find a way to provide for himself and
his family after his father dies.
Scene: (Starts at approximately 14 minutes into the film and lasts about 1 minute) The
scene involves the headmaster Mr. Squeers and Nicholas Nickleby getting out of
the carriage that has brought them from London to the school that Mr. Squeers and
his wife run and the unlocking of the school gates by a young boy named Smike.

Emotions, Feelings
and Motivations
Anger

Superiority

Inferiority
Verbal cues
Mr. Squeers

Yells at “Smike”
(Anger, Superiority)

Non-verbal cues
Smike

Hands shake as he tries to
unlock the gate
(
)







Nicholas

“Is this Dotheboys
Hall?” (word stress
on “this”)
(
)

Mr. Squeers

Slaps Smike on the head
(
)
Smike

Nicholas

Eyes wide open
(

12
)
As at 14.2.2008
Suggested answers:
Activity 2
Film: Signs (2002)
Description: The movie is about a family living on a farm that is experiencing some
supernatural events such as crop circles.
Scene: (Starts at approximately 13.5 minutes into the movie and lasts about 1.5 minutes)
The father (Graham Hess), along with a police officer, rushes back to his farm
house to see his son (Morgan Hess) sitting next to one of the family’s dogs which is
dead. His daughter (Bo Hess) is sitting on the swing set looking down at her brother
and the dog. Later the father talks to another son (Merrill Hess) as he brings his
daughter, Bo, into the house.

Emotions, Feelings
and Motivations
Sadness

Fear

Love

Annoyance

Superiority

Bewilderment
Verbal cues
Morgan
 Crying
(Sadness)
Non-verbal cues
Bo


Graham
 “Did he hurt you?”
(Love)
 “I’m so sorry,
Morgan.”
(Love)
Graham to Merrill
 “Where were you?”
(Annoyance)
 “Tie Isabelle up to
the back of the shed
and make sure the
knot is very tight.”
(Superiority)
Curled up
(Sadness, Fear)
Eyes down
(Sadness, Fear)
Morgan
 Sniffling
(Sadness)
 Walking away from his
father
(Sadness)
Graham
 Holding out his hand
to his son
(Love)
 Rubbing his son’s
shoulder
(Love)
 Holding his daughter
(Love)
Merrill
 Eyes wide open
(Bewilderment)
 Turning around
(Bewilderment)
13
As at 14.2.2008
Film: Titanic (1997)
Description: The story of Titanic and two young people from very different worlds who
meet and fall in love on the doomed voyage.
Scene: (Starts at approximately 27.5 minutes into the movie and lasts about 30 seconds)
The scene begins as Jack and his friend are looking for their cabin, find it and meet
their Swedish roommates. It stops just as Jack puts his belongings on the lower
bunk.
Emotions, Feelings
and Motivations
 Politeness

Confidence

Bewilderment
Verbal cues
Jack







Apologises for
bumping into
someone.
(Politeness)
“Excuse me”
(Politeness)
“Oh, right here!”
(Bewilderment)
Introduces himself
to others right away
(Politeness,
Confidence)
“Hey, how you
doing?”
(Politeness)
“Jack, nice to meet
you. I’m Jack
Dawson, nice to
meet you. How are
you doing?”
(Politeness,
Confidence)
“Who says you get
top bunk?”
(Confidence)
Non-verbal cues
Jack










Chin up
(Confidence)
Open chest
(Confidence)
Touches others when
speaking to them
(Politeness)
Leads the way
(Confidence)
Touches the wall
(Bewilderment)
Offers his hand to other
right away
(Politeness)
Looks straight at the
person he is speaking to
(Politeness, Confidence)
Slaps new roommate on
the arm
(Confidence)
Doesn’t wait for the
roommate to introduce
himself before turning
away
(Confidence)
Playfully punches friend
(Confidence)
Swedish roommates
 Open mouth
(Bewilderment)
 Head tilted
(Bewilderment)
 Looks around
(Bewilderment)
14
As at 14.2.2008
Film: Nicholas Nickleby (2002)
Description: Adapted from the Novel of the same name by Charles Dickens it tells the
story of Nicholas Nickleby, who must find a way to provide for himself and
his family after his father dies.
Scene: (Starts at approximately 14 minutes into the film and lasts about 1 minute) The
scene involves the headmaster Mr. Squeers and Nicholas Nickleby getting out of
the carriage that has brought them from London to the school that Mr. Squeers and
his wife run and the unlocking of the school gates by a young boy named Smike.
Emotions, Feelings
and Motivations
 Anger

Superiority

Inferiority

Nervousness

Bewilderment
Verbal cues
Non-verbal cues
Mr. Squeers
 Yells at “Smike”
(Anger, Superiority)
 Keeps his voice raised
when speaking to Smike
(Superiority)
 Swears at him “Where
the devil were you?”
(Anger)
 Scolds Smike for not
waiting out in the cold
(Anger, Superiority)
Smike
 Hands shake as he tries to
unlock the gate
(Nervousness)
 Head is lowered. Eyes are
mostly fixed to the ground
(Nervousness, Inferiority)
 Breathes unevenly
(Nervousness)
 Tilts his body out of the way
of Mr. Squeers
(Nervousness, Inferiority)
 Does not fight back when
hit
(Inferiority)
Nicholas
 “Is this Dotheboys
Hall?” (word stress on
“this”)
(Bewilderment)
Smike
 Behaves politely even
when he has been
insulted – “Please,
sir.”
(Inferiority)
15
Mr. Squeers
 Slaps Smike on the head
(Anger, Superiority)
Nicholas
 Eyes wide open
(Bewilderment)
 Mouth slightly open
(Bewilderment)
As at 14.2.2008
Lessons 7-10: Stages of script writing (please refer to SoWs pp.4-5)
Activity
Work in a small group for a script writing activity. Using the well-known tale of the three
little pigs, your group will need to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Divide a skeleton story outline into acts or scenes.
Decide on how many parts you will include in the script.
Write the narrator’s narration and the actors’ dialogues.
Write stage directions that describe important information about movement, nonverbal action, and props.
Write brief comments on the script produced by your own group as self-evaluation.
Give the script to your teacher for further feedback.
16
As at 14.2.2008
1.
Read the following skeleton story outline. Discuss with your classmates to see how it
could be divided into acts or scenes.
There were three little pigs.
They lived with their mother.
One day they decided to seek their fortune.
The first little pig met a farmer who had some sticks.
He asked the farmer for some sticks.
The farmer gave him some sticks.
The first little pig took the sticks and made a house.
The second little pig met a woodsman who had some wood.
He asked the woodsman for some wood.
The woodsman gave him some.
The second little pig took the wood and made a house.
The third little pig met a brick maker who had some bricks.
He asked the brick maker for some bricks.
The brick maker gave him some.
The first little pig made a house of sticks.
The second little pig made a house of wood.
The third little pig made a house of bricks.
The first little pig enjoyed his house, until the big bad wolf came and visited him.
The big bad wolf told the pig to let him come in, otherwise he would blow down his
house.
The pig told the wolf that he could not come in.
So the wolf blew down the house with his breath.
The first little pig ran to the second little pig’s house.
The wolf went to the second little pig’s house and told him to let him come in,
otherwise he would blow down his house.
The second little pig told the wolf he could not come in.
So the wolf blew down the house with his breath.
The two little pigs ran to the third little pig’s house.
The wolf went to the third little pig’s house and told him to let him come in,
otherwise he would blow down his house.
The third little pig told the wolf he could not come in.
So the wolf started to blow down the house.
But he could not blow down the house.
All the three little pigs came out of the house and beat the wolf up.
The wolf ran away.
They called their mother and asked her to live with them.
They all lived happily ever after.
17
As at 14.2.2008
Teachers’ notes
*The story outline given is, in fact, meant to be simple and straightforward, serving as a
starting point to illustrate how a script can be organised so that even students with little
knowledge of a dramatic text will find the task manageable.
*An example to show how a story can be broken up is provided on the following page.
Teachers should remind students that there are many different ways to arrange acts and
scenes, and it is not necessary to organise events in a strict chronological order. Teachers
should also encourage students to make use of their creativity during the process.
*Teachers may like to challenge the more able students by asking them to organise the
events in an unconventional way, for example, starting with the end of the story and
working backwards, ending at the beginning and coming full circle, etc.
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Suggested answers:
Act I
Scene I
There were three little pigs.
They lived with their mother.
One day they decided to seek their fortune.
Scene II
The first little pig met a farmer who had some sticks.
He asked the farmer for some sticks.
The farmer gave him some sticks.
The first little pig took the sticks and made a house.
Scene III
The second little pig met a woodsman who had some wood.
He asked the woodsman for some wood.
The woodsman gave him some.
The second little pig took the wood and made a house.
Scene IV
The third little pig met a brick maker who had some bricks.
He asked the brick maker for some bricks.
The brick maker gave him some.
The third little pig took the bricks and made a house.
Scene V
The first little pig made a house of sticks.
The second little pig made a house of wood.
The third little pig made a house of bricks.
Act II
Scene I
The first little pig enjoyed his house, until the big bad wolf came and visited him.
The big bad wolf told the pig to let him come in otherwise he would blow down his house.
The pig told the wolf that he could not come in.
So the wolf blew down the house with his breath.
The first little pig ran to the second little pig’s house.
Scene II
The wolf went to the second little pig’s house and told him to let him come in, otherwise he
would blow down his house.
The second little pig told the wolf he could not come in.
So the wolf blew down the house with his breath.
The two little pigs ran to the third little pig’s house.
Scene III
The wolf went to the third little pig’s house and told him to let him come in, otherwise he
would blow down his house.
The third little pig told the wolf he could not come in.
So the wolf started to blow down the house.
But he could not blow down the house.
Scene IV
All the three little pigs came out of the house and beat the wolf up.
The wolf ran away.
Act III
They called their mother and asked her to live with them.
They all lived happily ever after.
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2.
Decide on how many parts (the various roles/characters) you will include in the script.
You may come up with a narrator and some actors/actresses, leading and supporting.
List them out.
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Teachers’ notes
*Some possible parts to be included in the script are as follows:
narrator/mother/farmer/woodsman/brick maker/first pig/second pig/third pig/wolf
3.
Discuss with your group some characteristics of the different parts you have just
identified. Try to write out the narrator’s narration and actors’ dialogues. You can refer
to the following sample.
Sample
Act I
Scene I
Narrator – Once upon a time, there were three little pigs who lived with their mother.
When they had all graduated from piggy school, they decided to go out into
the world to seek their fortune.
Mother – Please be careful little ones. I will miss you so much.
Little Pigs – Don’t worry, mom. We will be careful.
Narrator – So the little pigs set out into the world.
Scene II
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Teachers’ notes
*At this stage, teachers may or may not require their students to write up the full script,
depending on how well they progress. Nevertheless, it would be best for teachers to stretch
even the less able students by asking them to attempt to complete a short simple script,
which is a very good practice to equip them to compose an original script in Part 3 of the
module.
*For the more able students, teachers may require them to develop a full script and
encourage them to incorporate humor by asking them to discuss how the story of the Three
Little Pigs could be written in a humorous and creative way to arouse and sustain readers’
interest.
4.
Write stage directions that describe important information about movement, non-verbal
action and props for the scenes by adding simple sentences following the dialogues. Try
to describe, for example, where the actor is standing, to which direction he is moving
and what posture he is having. You can also talk about the manner in which an actor is
doing the action and the things/objects he is using. Read the following stage directions
in brackets as examples. Then discuss with your group and come up with some stage
directions for the other scenes you worked on in the previous activity.
Scene I
Narrator – Once upon a time, there were three little pigs who lived with
their mother. When they had all graduated from piggy school, they decided
to go out into the world to seek their fortune. (The narrator stands to the
side, and reads from a book.)
Mother – Please be careful little ones. I will miss you so much. (She hugs
them and has tears in her eyes.)
Little Pigs - Don’t worry, mom. We will be careful. (They speak in unison.)
Narrator – So the little pigs (holding hands) set out into the world. (They
walk out the door as their mother waves goodbye looking very sad.)
Teachers’ notes
*Teachers may skip this part depending on the level of ability of their students, but it would
be acceptable if students could only write very simple stage directions with phrases. The
point here is to get them think about what possible movements (the non-verbal elements)
and props can be involved on the stage in a drama performance.
5.
Discuss with your group members and give brief comments on the script considering
aspects like content, organisation and grammar.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
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Teachers’ notes
*Self-evaluation of the script at this stage is meant to be only preliminary and brief as
students need more exposure to the different aspects of a drama performance before they
can be competent enough to give reflective evaluation. More guidance from teachers is
necessary at this stage, after which students will move on to a more in-depth self and peer
evaluation session in Part 3.
6.
Give the script to your teacher for further feedback and revise your script if necessary.
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Lessons 11-12: Role-playing a short scene and evaluating a role-play (please refer to
SoWs pp.4-5)
Activity 1
With the script your group has produced, role-play it in the group. Select one of the scenes
you have written, decide which member will perform which part and start practising. Refer to
the following questions as some of the considerations for having a good role-play.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Should you speak from memory or hold the script?
How fast should you speak?
How should you handle the stress and intonation?
How can the voice be made clear and interesting?
How can eye contact be used?
How can facial expressions be used?
How can gestures be used?
Activity 2
After having the role-play, evaluate your group members’ performance as a whole by using
the following feedback form. Indicate your choice with a tick.
Role-play Feedback Form
Area assessed
Needs
improvement
Satisfactory
Good
Fluency
Pronunciation
Pace
Intonation and
stress
Clarity and
loudness of
voice
Eye contact
Facial
expression
Gesture
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PART 2: Writing short scenes and giving a dramatic reading
Lessons 13-16: Writing and role-playing a short scene (please refer to SoWs pp.6-7)
Activity
1. With a classmate, develop content and write a dialogue for one of the five scenarios on
Scenario Handout I on p.25.
2. In order to develop interesting content, first ask and answer questions about the scenario
you select. For example:

What kind of crime did the witness in scenario #1 witness? Where was it? When did
it happen?

In scenario #2, what kind of problem does the patient have?

In scenario #3, what kind of event is the customer going to? What special problems
might they have trying to find the right outfit?

In scenario #4, what kind of problem does Friend #1 have?

In scenario #5, what kind of restaurant are they in? What kind of food is being
ordered?
3. If you don’t like any of the scenarios provided, create your own.
4. Write a dialogue of at least 10 exchanges.
5. Revise it for grammar, vocabulary, and clarity.
6. Get feedback from your teacher on the dialogue you write.
7. Rehearse the dialogue with your classmate, focussing on pronunciation, intonation, pace,
expression and feeling, body movement, interaction and eye contact. Use the Role-play
Feedback Form in Lessons 11-12 on p.23.
8. Role-play the scenario dialogue you have developed in front of your class.
9. Evaluate your performance and seek evaluation from others using the Role-play
Feedback Form.
10. Revise the dialogue based on the feedback collected and post them up for sharing.
Teachers’ notes
*For the more able students, teachers might want to have them prepare dialogues for more
than one of the scenarios given. But time constraints may limit the number of dialogues
students can perform for the class.
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Scenario Handout I
Scenario #1
Citizen
Police Officer
The citizen is a witness to a crime and the police officer is questioning him/her.
Scenario #2
Doctor
Patient
The patient is explaining what his/her problem is and the doctor is trying to gather
information from the patient.
Scenario #3
Salesperson
Customer
The customer is trying to find a special outfit and the salesperson is trying to be helpful
and to make a sale.
Scenario #4
Two friends
Friend #1 has a serious problem and Friend #2 is trying to give him/her advice on how
to solve the problem.
Scenario #5
Customer
Waitress
The customer is trying to order a meal but is unfamiliar with some of the menu items
and the waitress is helping to explain what certain items are.
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Lessons 17-20: Practising how to express and convey emotions, feelings and motivations
(please refer to SoWs pp.6-7)
Activity
Work on the following with a partner.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Use the different dialogues that were written by your classmates for the scenarios in the
previous activity.
Select two of the dialogues.
Change the wording in those dialogues as needed to convey emotions, feelings and
motivations specified in the respective scenarios on Scenario Handout II on p.27.
Discuss and decide how to use word stress, pace, intonation, voice, body movement and
eye contact to convey specific emotions, feelings and motivations.
Practise and perform the dialogues in the two scenarios in the group.
Evaluate your group performance using the Rehearsal and Performance Feedback
Form on p.29.
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Scenario Handout II
Scenario #1
Citizen
Police Officer
The citizen is a witness to a crime and the police officer is questioning him/her.
Convey these emotions, feelings and/or motivations:
The police officer is doubtful about what the citizen is saying.
The citizen is nervous and is trying to cover something up.
Scenario #2
Doctor
Patient
The patient is explaining what his/her problem is and the doctor is trying to gather
information from the patient.
Convey these feelings, emotions and/or motivations:
The doctor is busy.
The patient is very worried that he/she has a serious illness.
Scenario #3
Salesperson
Customer
The customer is trying to find a special outfit and the salesperson is trying to make a
sale.
Convey these feelings, emotions and/or motivations:
The salesperson is impatient and wants to make a sale even if the outfit is unsuitable.
The customer is worried that nothing looks very good on him/her.
Scenario #4
Two friends
Friend #1 has a serious problem and Friend #2 is trying to give him/her advice on how
to solve the problem.
Convey these feelings, emotions and/or motivations:
Friend #1 is sad and Friend #2 is trying to cheer him/her up.
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Scenario #5
Customer
Waitress
The customer is trying to order a meal but is unfamiliar with some of the menu items
and the waitress is helping to explain what certain items are.
Convey these feelings, emotions and/or motivations:
The waitress is very friendly and wants the customer to be happy. The customer finds it
difficult to make a decision.
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Rehearsal and Performance Feedback Form
1.
Go over the Rehearsal and Performance Feedback Form below. As you carry out
rehearsals and performances, you will need to consult it.
2.
Use it as the basis for reflecting on your own performance and as a way of giving
feedback to your classmates.
Give feedback on your own or on others’ performances. Not all items are relevant for every
performance. (1 = needs improvement; 2 = satisfactory; 3 = good)
1
1
2
2
3
3
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
Lines are memorised
Pace of speech is appropriate (e.g. speech is neither too slow nor too fast
and is appropriate for expressing the meaning of the words)
Word stress is correct
Speaking is clear and pronunciation is accurate
Body movement is appropriate and meaningful
Physical interactions with other actors are natural and appropriate
Timing of lines creates a good flow of action (e.g. lines are delivered on
time and flow naturally between the actors)
Intonation and stress placed on words and phrases correctly convey
meaning and feeling (e.g. use rising intonation to express doubt, surprise)
Eye contact with other actors and with the audience is appropriate and
conveys meaning and feeling
Facial movements and expressions are used to convey meaning and
feeling
Body movement is used to convey meaning and feeling
Voice is used to convey meaning and feeling
Props add to the enjoyment and feeling of the drama
Costumes add to the enjoyment and feeling of the drama
Makeup adds to the enjoyment and feeling of the drama
Overall comments:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Teachers’ notes
*The above is an example of a feedback form that may be used for drama rehearsal and
performance evaluation. Not all the items may be relevant to every performance. Teachers
are encouraged to use the form flexibly and make any necessary adaptations to suit the
teaching focus and the level and needs of their students. Credit should be given where it is
due as there might be aspects of the students’ work which have gone beyond the specified
requirements.
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Lessons 21-28: Reader’s Theatre (please refer to SoWs pp.6-7)
Reader’s Theatre allows performers to hold scripts and read from them. Usually performers
are seated on stools and there is just a minimal amount of staging and interaction required.
Activity
1. Go to www.aaronshep.com for a Reader’s Theatre script or more selection that can be
downloaded and used.
2. Working in a small group, read over the lines to understand their meaning as well as any
stage directions.
3. Decide who will perform each part.
4. Practise the lines (individually, with a partner and in a group).
5. Practise the stage directions that are given in the script.
6. Rehearse the drama several times. Focus on whether you are able to
 Pronounce words correctly.
 Give correct intonation to lines.
 Deliver lines with an appropriate pace of speech, neither too fast nor too slow.
 Project your voice appropriately.
 Give appropriate expression and feeling to the lines.
 Connect your lines with those of the other actors in order to create a natural flow
(timing).
 Move your body and interact appropriately with the other actors in a simple manner.
 Use appropriate eye contact with other actors and, where appropriate, the audience.
 Listen appropriately to others when they deliver their lines.
7. Act out the lines in an informal performance using the scripts in hand.
8. Gather feedback on your and others’ performance using the Rehearsal and Performance
Feedback Form on p.29.
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PART 3: Performing a play
Lessons 29-50: Writing and performing a play based on a fairy tale or well-known story
(please refer to SoWs pp.8-9)
Use the To do list for writing a script and putting on a play on p.33.
A. Writing an original script (Lessons 29-36)
Activity
Within a small group, develop and write a script.

Select a story.
– Discuss and select a simple story that would be appropriate and interesting for your
audience.
– Develop a skeleton, or outline, of all the important details of the story using simple
sentences and phrases
– Organise and divide the play’s actions into acts and scenes as needed.

Develop a script.
– Write a script that is original, keeping in mind time (15-20 minutes) and logistics
(where and when you will perform the play) limitations.
– Be as creative and humorous as you think is appropriate for your audience. Don’t be
afraid to rewrite the story using names, places and ideas that are interesting to your
audience. For example, if you are doing a version of “Little Red Riding Hood,” you
could change the story to be about a little girl named Ah Mei who, visiting her
grandmother in Wanchai, takes the MTR for the first time, and whose mother has
warned her not to speak to any strangers on her way.
– Include in your script the parts for a narrator.
– Use the narrator to introduce descriptions and background information.
– Include in your script stage directions as needed.
– Plan how to make transitions between acts and scenes as needed.
– Revise the script for grammatical accuracy keeping in mind that the characters may
not be speaking in complete sentences.
– Revise the script’s vocabulary and idioms for accuracy and appropriateness.
– Revise the script for conciseness. Make sure you are not using unnecessary words.

Use the Script Feedback Form on p.34 to collect feedback on your script.
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B. Cast parts and rehearse the play (Lessons 37-44)
Activity
In your group,
 Select members to take responsibility for direction, scenery, prompting, costumes, sound
effects and publicity.
 Assign each member of your group a speaking part. If there are too many people in your
group, you can divide the narrator’s part so that more than one person can perform it.
 Use your creativity to develop scenery, props and sound effects that add to the meaning
and enjoyment of the play.
 Memorise your parts.
 Rehearse the play. Use the Rehearsal and Performance Feedback Form on p.29 to give
and get feedback.
 Develop a way of publicising the play such as a playbill and/or poster.
Teachers’ notes
*Teachers may choose not to ask the less able students to produce the technical aspects, but
still, students can opt to produce some of them considering their interests and capability.
C. Perform the play and evaluate your performance (Lessons 45-50)
Activity
In your group,
 Perform your play for the whole class.
 Get feedback on your group’s performance from your classmates and teacher.
Teachers’ notes
*For the more able students, instead of asking them to develop a script based on an existing
story, teachers may encourage them to create a story outline geared towards an intended
audience of their own choice. Students could give a performance for their intended
audience at a specific venue as an extended activity after finishing their class performance
and getting feedback from both their teacher and classmates.
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To do list for writing a script and putting on a play
As a group,













Select a story
Develop an outline for the story
Write the first draft of the script
Give and get feedback on the script using the Script Feedback Form on p.34
Rewrite the script to get it right
Give everyone a speaking part in the play
*Select group members to carry out the following tasks:
– Direct the rehearsals and the play
– Prompt the actors and narrator
– Make and find props and scenery
– Make and find costumes
– Do makeup and hair
– Take care of lighting and sound effects
– Publicise and promote the play by creating a playbill or a poster
Carry out rehearsals
Give and get feedback on the rehearsals
Carry out a dress rehearsal
Give the performance
Get feedback from your audience
Evaluate your performance and what you have learned
*You may select some items from the list, considering the needs and interests of your
group members and time limits.
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Script Feedback Form
Give feedback on the script using the following form. Put a tick for the item that you find
satisfactory or add comments if further improvement is needed.
Area Assessed
Specific Item Assessed
Content
Ideas in the scenes and acts are
clear enough
Dialogues used are appropriate
*Script is clearly written with a
specific audience in mind
Organisation
Sequence of the events is logical
Script is appropriately divided into
acts and/or scenes
Transitions are smooth and logical
enough to help understanding of
the content
Language
Appropriate adjectives and adverbs
are used by the narrator to set the
scenes
Language used is appropriate in
terms of formality
Words used are appropriate in
terms of clarity and complexity
Grammar and idiomatic language
are correct
Spelling and punctuation are
correct
Stage Directions
Stage directions are given where
appropriate
Stage directions are clear and
logical
Comments
Overall comments
What did you enjoy about the script?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
What other areas could be improved on?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
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Teachers’ notes
*This item is only for those learners who have developed a script geared towards an
intended audience. Teachers should feel free to adapt the form according to their students’
level and needs.
35